Electrochemical battery with mobile electrodes

Abstract

An electrochemical battery with mobile electrodes of the so-called "reserve" type. According to one characteristic of the invention, the battery includes a holder for holding the electrodes outside the cells during a storage period of the battery, and for placing these electrodes inside the cells in order to activate the battery.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrochemical battery having: a group of mobile electrode carrying plates, said plates having electrodes affixed thereon; and   a fixed electrolyte container having electrolyte therein, said electrolyte extending throughout said container in an uncompartmented manner when said battery is in a storage state where said electrodes are out of contact with said electrolyte, and said electrolyte being compartmented into several individual portions, the individual portions isolated from each other by said electrode carrying plates when said battery is in an activated state, the electrodes in contact with said electrolyte in the activated state.   
     
     
       2. An electrochemical battery according to claim 1, wherein said electrode carrying plates are translationally movable towards said container. 
     
     
       3. An electrochemical battery according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the electrolyte is a gel. 
     
     
       4. An electrochemical battery according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said electrode carrying plates each comprise two main faces, one of said faces carries an electrode of one given polarity and the other face carries an electrode of an opposite polarity. 
     
     
       5. An electrochemical battery having a storage state in which the battery is inactive and an activated state in which the battery is active, said battery comprising several electrode carrying plates, each plate having two main faces, one of said faces carries an electrode of one given polarity and the other face carries an electrode of an opposite polarity, said battery further comprising an electrolyte container having electrolyte therein, means for maintaining the electrode carrying plates out of contact with the electrolyte when said battery is in the storage state, means for allowing displacement of said electrode carrying plates towards and into said container during an activation operation, and means for maintaining the plates in said container, when the battery is in the activated state, in a position such that a respective pair of adjacent plates enclose a respective portion of said electrolyte, said portion isolated from other portions by said pair of adjacent plates. 
     
     
       6. An electrochemical battery according to claim 5, wherein said electrolyte is a gel.